Early Times Report JAMMU, Sept 23: Launching a scathing attack on opposition parties, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh on Saturday said that goons of National Conference (NC), Congress and Panthers Party were behind staging a protest near Tawi river bridge which was the venue where a programme was organized to mark the Maharaja Hari Singh's 123rd birth anniversary."The protest in support of declaration of holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday was a mere drama of opposition parties. The demonstration near Tawi river bridge during Maharaja’s birth anniversary function was the handiwork of hooligans from NC, Congress and Panthers Party," said Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh.Dy CM said even the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) also supports the declaration of Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday as state holiday."If NC and Congress are really serious over the issue of announcing September 23 as state holiday then they should support us for that. Indulging in rhetoric won't help anyone's cause," said Dr Nirmal Singh."We are trying to convince our coalition partner PDP to declare a state holiday on Maharaja Saheb's birthday. We will forcefully raise the issue in the upcoming cabinet meeting. Opposition leaders including Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah of NC besides President of the state unit of Congress GA Mir should come clear on this emotive issue and extend their full support in open to the demand of Jammu people," Dr Singh added.Taking a pot shot on Congress and the NC, Deputy CM said that those who disrespected Maharaja Hari Singh have no right to teach the BJP on how to respect one of the revered figures for the people of Jammu."Those ( Congress and NC) who were responsible for the exile of Maharaja Saheb after the state of Jammu & Kashmir acceded to the Indian Union should not dictate us on how to show our respects to the last ruler of Dogra dynasty," said Dr Nirmal Singh.